‘Love & Hip-Hop’ star who sued Tory Lanez says he was forced to settle

“Love & Hip Hop Miami” star Christopher Michael Harty says he was forced to sign a settlement agreement related to a lawsuit filed against Canadian rapper Tory Lanez.

A model, nightlife promoter and television personality going by the name Prince sued Lanez in 2020 for battery, assault and negligence resulting from an altercation at a Miami nightclub in 2019.

Prince alleged that Lanez, whose real name was Dayster Peterson, got into an altercation with security and staff and beat him, leaving him with bruises and bruises. Harty later added another incident to the complaint, claiming that a Peterson employee punched him in the face at Peterson’s direction outside another club in Miami in 2021.

The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $30,000.

However, as the case continues in court, Harty and Peterson’s attorneys are embroiled in a dispute over whether the case should be settled and dropped.

According to documents filed in Miami-Dade County Court, Peterson’s attorneys claimed Harty agreed to settle for $20,000. He refused to agree to the settlement, claiming that he had only agreed to the settlement out of fear of being harassed, and has yet to withdraw the lawsuit.

In an affidavit, Harty claimed that Peterson appeared with one of his employees at a June meeting held outside the courthouse to discuss the settlement. claimed it was the same employee who beat him outside the Vendome nightclub in Miami Beach and threatened his life.

Both men aggressively asked Harty to sign a settlement agreement, he claimed in court documents.

Harty said in court, “I thought my life might be in danger if I didn’t sign the agreement. ‘Otherwise I wouldn’t have signed that contract.'”

Peterson’s attorneys, Ander Brown and Kadisha D. Phelps, were not reached for comment on Friday.

Harty’s attorneys, Richard and Mason Wolfe, told The Times that the June meeting took place at Peterson’s music studio in Miami, without an attorney present. Mr Wolff said Mr Peterson’s attorneys had no idea what the contract was about. has not been specified.

“They know they have no chance of convincing a judge that this release refers to this lawsuit,” Harty said, referring to the agreement.

The court is expected to hear arguments from both sides in late February on whether, in light of recent allegations, the settlement agreement signed by Harty must continue to be upheld.

Peterson is currently incarcerated in Los Angeles County, awaiting sentencing for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the Hollywood Hills after a party in 2020.

During a highly publicized trial, a jury convicted Peterson of assault and weapons crimes. Peterson faces more than 20 years in prison for a gunshot that a jury concluded he enraged and fired into the feet of the rapper, whose real name is Megan Peet.

Harty recently faced criminal charges in an alleged domestic violence case involving his girlfriend. Harty’s criminal attorney, Michael Grieco, said.

A jury was unable to reach a verdict on the domestic violence charge, and a judge pronounced the case last December last December after prosecutors made inappropriate statements during the trial, Glico said. is about to start a new trial.

Harty was also arrested in October on another domestic violence charge, Glico said, but that case was also dismissed in December.

This story was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.